New South Wales, home to Sydney and Byron Bay is an epicentre of world surfing. South-east facing, the coastline picks up any west swells and some north-easterly during summer, including the occasional cyclone swell. In the main south-east swells only arrive during the winter. Dominant winds are cross-shore from the south apart from in summer when it switches to the north. Byron is famed for its long sandy point and the region boasts a profusion of sandy beaches and reefs. Sydney is of course famed for city surfing at its many beaches. First surfed by Duke Kahanamoku in 1914 surfing is extremely popular with an estimated 350,000 surfers spread along its 750 mile coastline. Water temperatures vary from 19 to 25Â°C or 66 to 77Â°F.